By Alexis Laura Feliciano
Quite isolated and reachable by bus through a mountain pass, Baler,
the political and economic center of Aurora, Quezon, has retained
its rich coverlets of history and is yet to experience the hustle
and bustle of the city life with its population peaking at 34,500,
roughly the same population pre-war Manila had.
But Baler will be the center of festivities this
year as 2009 was declared by President Gloria Arroyo as “The
Quadricentennial Year of Baler” with year-long activities lined up
for the celebration of its 400-year anniversary.